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The "Network News"
The "Network News" is a publication by the VOCAL Network, 1904 Byrd Avenue, Suite 111, Richmond, Virginia 23230. Call us toll free at 1-877-VOCLNET (862-5638) Email: yolande@vocalvirginia.org.
"Our Mission is to bring Virginia mental
health
consumers together in a statewide network, to
celebrate our strengths and courage,and to
support each other in recovery through
hope,learning,
and empowerment."
From Will Gallik
VOCAL Interim Executive Director
Hello VOCAL members, I hope this finds you well!
These past few months at VOCAL have been decidedly transformational. As you may know, VOCAL is in the midst of undertaking significant changes that includes strengthening its board of directors and staffing while recommitting itself to the values that it strives to uphold in all that it does. Coming on board to VOCAL during this time has been, well, a little stressful. Significant obstacles have had to be overcome to begin the work toward becoming a strong, viable, and stable organization once again. This began by shoring up our financial health followed by completing projects that VOCAL was committed to. The Board took on the difficult task of completing a self-assessment and went through an orientation period with trainings. To tie things together, the board and staff worked together through a board/staff retreat. I am happy to report that we are on track and that the retreat went off without a hitch and proved to be successful beyond even its original intent.
To give a little background, this retreat was a culmination of the summer's work. Earlier in the summer, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) audited VOCAL. While there were no major items of concern, there were certainly recommendations. As part of the recommendations, VOCAL was tasked to develop an operational plan for this fiscal year. This operational plan included developing plans for hiring and strengthening its programming and financial procedures. But more so than that, DBHDS expressed, in not so many words, its desire to see VOCAL working towards stability, particularly through its board of directors and staffing. This is important so that VOCAL may remain a strong player with advocacy on the legislative side as well as for its members and others working toward systems change in Virginia.
Objectives of the retreat were to:
* Develop an operational plan for fiscal year 2013 addressing DBHDS's recommendations;
* Continue the shift of the board consciousness toward a working board that better understands its role and responsibilities;
* Create cohesiveness;
* Shift toward looking forward by building commitment and strategic planning; and
* Begin the process of developing an organizational WRAP.
All of these objectives were met. Additional outcomes included:
* An increased sense of trust and safety;
* Greater understanding of basic business practices;
* Increased volunteering of board members for committee work; and a
* Recommitment to VOCAL and its values and mission.
The operational plan is being put into place as VOCAL will be hiring program directors for the statewide Network, the CO-OP (technical assistance program), and REACH (recovery education program). (Please visit the VOCAL website at www.vocalvirginia.org for further details regarding available employment opportunities.)
Throughout this process, the Board of Directors has really come together as a cohesive and supportive group willing to grow and step out of their individual comfort zones for the betterment of VOCAL. As new Board members have come on board and others have taken leadership positions, the strengths of each individual board member are showing more and have been very much welcome. This willingness and resilience shows character and signifies to a greater sense why we are all part of this organization.
The Chinese character for crisis comprises the two elements of danger and opportunity. While these are certainly potentially dangerous times, they present an opportunity to strengthen the organization that is ABOUT us BY us. We are appreciative of your support and look forward to our continuing partnership.
Sincerely,
Will Gallik
Editor's Note: To contact Will Gallik, email him at will@vocalvirginia.org or call him at the Charlottesville office: 434.243.7878 X23
VOCAL BOARD Meets Wednesday, November 7 in Charlottesville
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
1600 5th Street, Room A
This is an open meeting.
Please RSVP to Deidre at deidre@vocalvirginia.org if you would like to attend.
Please note: VOCAL does not reimburse for mileage/travel expenses nor provides lunch for guests.
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Good News!
by Ann Conner, President, VOCAL BOD
VOCAL has successfully overcome the most immediate of the awesome challenges that we faced when you elected me last May. Then we were in crisis, with communication difficulties within the board as well as between board and staff. That is no longer the case, as the positive outcomes of our recent Board/Staff Retreat made tangible.
In June, VOCAL was audited by DBHDS (our state funder), that contract providing approximately 70% of VOCAL's total annual budget. We were audited because DBHDS has started auditing peer run programs, because we are the largest peer run program in the state (both in terms of budget and of members) and because they were worried also. They knew about our loss of staff and communication issues. They knew that we had an Interim Executive Director with an extremely limited scope of duties. The end of VOCAL's fiscal year was coming up in about two months - August 31st. The Interim Executive Director, the three heroic remaining staff: Bonnie Neighbour; Malaina Poore; and Yolande Long, and I were told directly that there was a serious question about whether VOCAL could possibly complete enough deliverables in two months, given how far behind we had gotten and how few staff we had, for DBHDS to be able to give VOCAL a new FY 2013 contract. What happened next was awe inspiring! Bonnie said she would get the WRAP training done, Malaina and Yolande said they would help; then they just took on one thing after another! I wish I knew how to describe it better so you could share my sense of inspiration and appreciate the dedication of these three women to the survival of VOCAL.
So we had our challenge. In two months, hire an executive director and staff and have them performing significant deliverables almost instantly. I could only think of one way VOCAL might have any chance of success: if Will Gallik, our Interim Executive Director, would consider staying on longer but with the difference of taking on the whole job, on a full-time basis. It turns out that Will is a brave guy and he has been involved with VOCAL pretty much since the beginning, so he is invested and he said yes to the board's offer of a six-month contract with a possible six-month extension! Another hero without whom VOCAL would not be where it is right now.
THAT IS WITH A NEW DBHDS FY 2013 CONTRACT!
VOCAL still could only accomplish all we did in two months with the assistance of two exceptional individuals, Mickie Chapman and Deidre Johnson. They were both good enough to agree to work on a 3-month contract basis, thus allowing us to hire at maximum speed and, given the uncertainty of VOCAL's future, with minimum commitment.
The Board of Directors played a crucial role in VOCAL's survival as we opened our minds to consider new options and worked together to make the difficult decisions necessary in this time of crisis.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We currently have 4 vacancies on the Board, one of which is an at large position which any voting member in the state could fill. If you or someone you know is interested in, and would be an asset to, the VOCAL board, please click on the link below for an application.
Now, a top priority is to hire permanent staff to fill the vacancies. Also to continue to strengthen the board as we provide training and establish and/or re-establish board committees. We are also looking for members interested in participating in board committees. Send us an email at BoardDC@vocalvirginia.org if interested, and we will send you the committee information as soon as it is available.
I see this fiscal year, 2013, as a year of shoring up the foundations. Getting all our by-laws, policies, procedures, guidelines, etc. as complete and as effective as possible which will put VOCAL in the best position to take the next step. We are already working on what that next step will be. The fiscal side of our DBHDS audit calls for the establishment and verification of many policies and procedures. It is very helpful in telling us exactly what needs to be done, and some have already been accomplished. When the audit comes out in final form, it will, of course, be made available. Overall, I was pleased about the audit. Basically I felt that we were being told to grow up as an organization, that we are too big to wing it any more: documents need to be filed properly, procedures established and then followed consistently, more checks and balances, and like that. There is no hint of more serious problems. Our problems are all very fixable and that is just what we are doing.
I hope that you now feel more caught up with what has been happening at VOCAL. I would like to hear from you: comments, questions, feedback. Be well.
From Where I Sit...
Creative Offerings from Members and Friends
"Silent Threads" by Flora Lark Baily
Spirits live in the music we create
There are angels in the words we say
I have danced with the muses of rhythm
As I honor the light within each note
I listen to all the stories told
In the mystic language known as Sound
Parts of ourselves are expelled
When we share our primal essence
Our Hearts become as Big as the Wombs we once filled
And the Connections we Birth
Feed our Souls like fresh air fills our lungs
If we could see the invisible Energy
That is Time and Space
And Unearth the Silent Threads
Connecting us to the Divine
Both from Above and from Within
We might better comprehend
The Mysteries of Life
And how our greatest gifts
Are given to us
Flowing through us
From worlds we can only see
In our dreams
But know by Heart and by Name
Creativity heals us from the inside out
And helps us to remember the wings we lost
In the fire before the storm
Before we knew the meaning of harm
And as we learn how to comfort
Strangers from afar
Without even knowing their names or stories
Music, poems, and words connect those dots
As we become a sacred shared experience
That is forever engrained into our collective subconscious
And those Beautiful Beings of Light
We haven't met yet
Don't seem/feel so much like strangers anymore
When the same vibrations are surrounding our souls
We are reminded of a simple truth:
We all feel Pain when we Cry
And Love only comes when we are ready to Try
Social Inclusion Grant Wrap-Up
by Malaina Poore
It is with gratitude that we close out this year's Social Inclusion Grant from the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) ADS (Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion) Center. The award supported outreach to peers 18 to 25 years old. This project was peer-run and primarily facilitated by young people. Many VOCAL staff members dreamed, schemed and assisted with the success of this endeavor. Consider this an open love letter to all of these people.
The Youth Create Wholeness program hosted 55 events across the state. A blog was also created, a Youth Facebook page and a Twitter account. We know that we reached 745 people online. A'ishah Hils of Resistdance Design spearheaded these efforts. A'ishah is a tireless cross-disabilities activist who now lives in Nebraska. VOCAL has long been interested in attracting younger people to the peer-run community, so this networking is appreciated.
Spiritworks Foundation Center for the Recovery of the Soul in Williamsburg spent over 50 hours painting a traveling recovery mural on the side of a bus. Director Jan Brown reports, "We now have regular meetings for young adults as well as other young adults doing community service at our Community Center. Young adults now participate in all phases of community life at SpiritWorks Foundation. We have added 50 young people to the SpiritWorks community as a direct result of the Social Inclusion project." If you are not familiar with Jan and Spiritworks, the website is worth a peek. Here is a flourishing peer-run center!
Flora Baily worked as the Youth Coordinator and hosted 11 art raves, a moveable/removable art project and a large mural with the Monacan Nation. What is an art rave, you wonder? "An Art Rave is first and foremost an Opportunity to Experience Healing through Creativity and Community. It is a Drug-Free, Alcohol-Free, Free to Express Yourself Safe Space to Nurture Connection and Self-Expression. This can range from Painting on Canvas, Drawing on Paper, Collage, Writing Words, or Movement on the Dance Floor." If you have met Flora then you have some idea of her passion and enthusiasm. She exceeded every goal set out for her and did so with great style. And color. And glitter.
She was joined by her sister Jona Noelle who worked as fabric cutter, cook, shopper, driver, artist, problem solver and assistant. She was also graced with the assistance of Nina Burke, soft-spoken and magenta-haired artist extraordinaire. After the original muralist resigned, these three women met with the Monacan tribe to bring their vision to life.
The Monacan Indian Nation of Bear Mountain worked with young people in a weekly culture class focused on traditional arts, language, spirituality and healthy living. This class culminated into a mural designed by the youth and painted onto a large flag to be carried to pow wow's. Sally Sturgill, the tribe's treasurer, expressed her commitment to the young people of the tribe learning what their ancestors knew and not letting that wisdom disappear.
Jessica Turpin, herself a mama bear at only 25 years old, led culture classes and facilitated the painting. Matt Latimer also assisted. Chief Sharon Bryant trusted us enough to let us in. For those of us who went up to Amherst County, we feel a friendship and relationship has been created that will stretch beyond the mural. If you are interested in learning more, The Monacan Nation has a museum in Amherst County. They are in the process of buying back their land on Bear Mountain that has been usurped over time.
We have many pictures for you to pursue on the VOCAL Youth webpage or Youth Facebook page.
I must say a final thank you to Ruth Montag at the SAMHSA ADS Center. It has been wonderful working with such a "human" - and that is the highest compliment I can imagine! Thank you for being so committed and available for questions.
At this time we do not know the future of Youth Create Wholeness now that the funding cycle has ended. That means that we are up for ideas!
Resources:
Spiritworks: http://www.spiritworksfoundation.org/
Monacan Indian Nation: http://www.monacannation.com/
Youth Create Wholeness Facebook Page (You can reach Flora here)
A'ishah Hils and Resistdance Designs: http://resistdance.wordpress.com/
SAMHSA's Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (ADS Center): http://stopstigma.samhsa.gov/
Nina Burke http://www.ninafrancesburke.blogspot.com/
Virginia Peers and Health Care Reform
by Ann Benner, Virginia Consumer Voices for Health Care
How does the Affordable Care Act impact people with disabilities? You probably have heard of some of the features listed below. This summary of improvements for people with disabilities was compiled by Virginia Consumer Voices for Health Care, a Robert Wood Johnson-funded non-profit that does education work on health care reform.
Protects Individuals from Insurance Companies
* Insurers can no longer deny coverage to children under 19 with pre-existing conditions.
* Individuals can no longer lose their coverage because their insurance company spent too much on health care in their lifetime.
* Individuals cannot lose coverage or be charged more for simply getting sick.
* Adults with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage through a "high-risk" pool.
Provides NO COST Screening and Preventive Care Services
* Well visits
* Multiple health screenings for newborns
* Folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant to prevent certain disabilities
* Developmental screenings, including screening for autism
* Behavioral screenings including depression and substance abuse for adolescents
* Other tests for children at high risk for certain disorders/illnesses
* Many vaccines including flu, meningitis, and HPV
* Diet counseling for those at high risk for chronic disease
Expands Options for Life in the Community
* Expands Money Follows the Person Program with an increase in funding.
* Gives states incentives to offer home and community-based services as an alternative to institutions.
* Ensures accessible examination equipment.
Starting in 2014
* States have the option of using federal funding to expand Medicaid enrollment to more
low-income Americans, including people with disabilities.
* The Medicaid reimbursement rate increases for certain physicians to encourage doctors to accept Medicaid patients.
* Adults will not be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition and the amount that people pay for premiums will be the same regardless of their medical history.
* No annual dollar limits will be allowed on most covered benefits.
News from the Regions
News from On Our Own of Roanoke Valley (OOORV)
On Our Own will have its Annual Meeting on October 16th from 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church on Franklin Road in Roanoke.
Our center has the following regular activities and groups:
Peer Support Group Tuesday through Saturday afternoons
Veterans' Peer Support Group on Mondays
Dual Recovery Anonymous on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Craft Days on Wednesdays
CoDa Women's Group on Mondays
Karaoke Coffeehouse on Saturdays
Bipolar Support Group Second Saturday
Peer Specialist Support Group & Dinner Monthly
We are also currently running two closed groups: WRAP and Pathways to Recovery. Next group start dates will be released when available.
Please call for times or calendar of events: 540.362.0061 or www.rvonourown.com
New W.R.A.P. Group begins October 23rd at 1:30 p.m. in the Gretna Public Library, 207 Coffey Street (across from the high school), in Pittsylvania County.
Uncle Sam's Vets Get Together in Warsaw
Get together with other Vets in the Northern Neck for coffee, conversation, and camaraderie. Mondays, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at "84 Main"
Central Peer Connect
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14th, (this is a change from our usual meeting day of Tuesday) at the VOPA (Virginia Organization for Protection and Advocacy) office, 1910 Byrd Avenue, First Floor, Richmond, 23230.
Our guest speaker will be Malaina Poore who will talk about Firewalkers and telling your own story. This will be an interactive presentation.
Call the Network office at 343-1777 or email: yolande@vocalvirginia.org for more information.
Mental Health Support Groups in NOVA
(Affiliated with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Falls Church, Virginia and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Northern Virginia)
For individuals with depression and bipolar disorders:
Thursdays 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 6165 Leesburg Pike, in Falls Church, Virginia 22044
For more information contact: Muna Jazrawi
703-532-8012 or email: munajaz@hotmail.com
For individuals with any mental health diagnosis:
Thursdays 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Joe & Fredona Gartlan Center
8119 Holland Road, Alexandria, VA 22306
Contact: Shavonne G. Carpenter (571) 432-8640
Email: Sister_SGC@yahoo.com
Saturdays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Embry Rucker Reston Shelter
11975 Bowman Towne Dr., Reston, VA 20190
Contact: Vanessa Priest (703) 966-8935
Email: vanessapriest@hotmail.com
Saturdays from 3:00 p.m.to 5:00 p.m. at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, 3302 Gallows Road in Falls Church, Virginia 22042
For more information contact: Jaimie White 703-521-8555 or email: jwhite8@cox.net<
Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV) 2012-13 Training Schedule
QUEST
Lynchburg VA- October 22-24, 2012
Williamsburg/Middle Peninsula - April 8-10, 2013
Middleburg/NOVA April 22-24, 2013
CELT (Consumer Empowerment Leadership Training)
Virginia Beach- December 3-7, 2012
Roanoke- March 25-29, 2013
Fredericksburg- May 20-24, 2013
Well-Quest (both in Richmond)
Nov 19-20, 2012
Feb 18-19, 2013
Advanced training
June 17-18, 2013
For more information and to apply, call Tiffany Perry at 804-257-5591
"Recovery Among Friends" Support Group Meets in Central Virginia (Ashland)
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., at the Thomas
Hale Center, 203 S. Taylor Street in Ashland
For questions: Patrick at 804.317.1255 or pebruckart@inbox.com or Betsy Brown at 804-798-4587
"Drop-In" WRAP Group in Richmond
Ongoing group in Henrico County.
For further information, email: wrapnrecovery@gmail.com or call 804.727.8540/804.727.8555
Eastern Henrico Peer to Peer is open to anyone in the Greater Richmond Area who has lived experience with mental health challenges. The group is devoted to providing a warm, safe and comfortable environment where we share our experiences and support one another in Recovery and Wellness. Come out and take part of this exciting community!
The group meets every two weeks and the next meeting will be held on October 24th from 6:00 -7:00 p.m.
Any questions, please feel free to contact Larry Almarode (804) 986-7129 or e-mail at
lalmarode@live.com or Mary Cook at the following numbers: (804) 222-2607 ext. 3128 (office) (804) 239-2710 (work cell) coo96@co.henrico.va.us (email)
Henrico Mental Health - East Center is located at 4825 South Laburnum Avenue, Henrico, Virginia.
From the Newsletter Editor
by Yolande Long, Communications and Events Coordinator
Thank you to those that sent in creative submissions
and news from the regions! The deadline for the
December - January 2012/2013 newsletter is November 19, 2012.
Please contact me at the VOCAL Network office if you
have any questions. Submissions may be sent in via
email at yolande@vocalvirginia.org or postal mail.
Our new mailing address is 1904 Byrd Avenue, Suite 111, Richmond, Virginia 23230
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